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In the winter of 2420, Dann suggests to Captain Ed Mercer and Commander Kelly Grayson that the ship should have music in the elevators. With their blessing, Dann adds a selection of music that plays in the ship's elevators.[2]

Months later, Dann approaches Lieutenants Gordon Malloy and John LaMarr at a farewell reception for Chief Engineer Steve Newton. Malloy and LaMarr explain that they have placed a piece of Lieutenant Yaphit in the reception buffet as a practical joke. Dann laughs and hints that he wants to be included in future pranks.[3]

Days later, Dann introduces himself to the engineering team as a man who loves refinishing antique furniture and banana walnut pancakes, but his introduction is cut short when Yaphit calls the activity "stupid."[3]

Dann is social and friendly, if a bit awkward. He often tries to make friends with others and be involved in their conversations. Though his behavior is generally tolerated, Mercer and Grayson on different occasions have blown up at him for trying to speak with them at bad times. He openly wishes to be involved in pranks on others.[3]

Dann and his unnamed alien species were one of the first designed aliens for the show. In November, 2016, Howard Berger - then make-up department head - dressed Dirk Rogers as the alien and presented him to Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane was impressed and the character Dann was born: "Oh, my God. I love this character. I'm going to write this character into the script."[4]

Initially, MacFarlane wanted Rogers to play Dann but Berger wanted keep to his co-worker free to work on new design prototypes. Actor Mike Henry was cast in his place, although Rogers does appear as an alien scientist named Samm of the same species in the pilot episode.[4]

On January 29, 2018, Henry revealed that Dann would return in Season 2.[5]

Two members of Dann's as yet unnamed species, wearing grey uniforms, can be seen in the background among the crew as Ed Mercer briefs them before the launch of the Orville in Old Wounds, though Dann himself is absent. Another such alien makes a more prominent appearance as a scientist at the Epsilon Science Station.[1]